Ranking Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock is of course, one of the great directors of all time. i'm happy to say that i've seen just about all his films, and every one of them has something to recommend it. he was underrated in his time by the film industry, having never received an Academy Award, despite huge commercial success. he may be one of the first directors to have name recognition as a sort of "brand" ala Steven Spielberg in later years. it's difficult to rank his flicks, but i'm going to give it a shot in the spirit of Halloween and the "Master of Suspense" Hitch was known as.

1. Notorious (1946)- Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman; this one has everything, romance, mystery, intrigue, you name it. my personal favorite of Hitch's. Claude Rains is a great villain.
2. Psycho (1960)- what can you say? Anthony Perkins is the iconic Norman Bates, Janet Leigh is the doomed heroine killed off in the first third of the movie. almost a perfect film, and of course influential in every possible way.
3. Rear Window (1954)- this may actually be tied with Psycho for number 2. i love it, love everything about it, and the very first Hitchcock i ever saw will always have a special place in my heart.
4. Rebecca (1940)- the only Hitch to ever win Best Picture, another awesome villain in the crazy housekeeper, and my 40's heartthrob Laurence Olivier at his brooding best
5. Shadow of a Doubt (1943)- less known, but it shouldn't be, and actually Hitch's personal favorite
6. To Catch a Thief (1955)- Hitch called it a lightweight, but THIS is how you do lightweight right, star casting in Cary Grant and Grace Kelly, romantic chemistry, scenic French landscapes and it still manages to hold the suspense
7. Vertigo (1958)- awesomely creepy and weird, Jimmy Stewart in a completely out-of-character role
8. The Birds (1963)- another sentimental fave, the second Hitchcock i ever saw and the concept is STILL cool
9. Strangers on a Train (1951)- classic, some say his best
10. The 39 Steps (1935)- early attempt at his beloved innocent-man-on-the run plot
11. Dial M For Murder (1954)- lots of dialogue and villain Ray Milland as the main character, love it
12. North By Northwest (1959)- Cary on the run, famous scenes galore

I have yet to see a few of his essentials: The Lady Vanishes, Saboteur, Suspicion, Rope, The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Lodger and Marnie. But this is how i'd rank them for now.